TrackMan is a military grade 3D Doppler radar system that uses a sample rate of 20,000 measurements per second to precisely quantify 27 different measurables on the baseball field, including pitch velocity, pitch spin rate and exit velocity of batted balls, among others.

Although most of the top peak velocities largely track with the average velocities, a few players stand out because of their ability maintain a velocity much closer to their peak than their peers. Righthander Beau Burrows tied for first overall in peak with velocity at 95.9 mph with Mike Nikorak, moves to the top spot in average velocity at 94.2 compared to Nikorak’s 93.9.

Righthander Cole McKay sat (92.5) within a full mph of his peak velocity (93.4) through his two inning stint, which was the narrowest margin of a pitcher to make the list. His peak velocity ranked 10, while his average velocity ranked fifth. The average difference between the group’s peak and average velocity was 2.1 mph.

Strong-bodied righthander Chris Andritsos held his velocity well (91.6) with a peak-average separation of 1.5, moving from 16th in peak (93.1) to ninth in average velocity.

The 2014 draft was considered down in Texas, potentially the worst in the last 10 years according to some scouts, but the Texans at PG National showed typical-Texan velocity as six of the 20 highest velocities (30 percent) belonged to Texans. One Texan, outfielder/righthander Ryan Johnson, was the only player to appear on the list for his pitching and hitting, touching 93.0 (the 18th best velocity) and producing the highest exit velocity (102.6) as a potent lefthanded bat.

FB SPIN RATE

Rk.

Player, Position, School

MPH

RPM

1

Thomas Szapucki, lhp, Dwyer HS, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

90

2545

2

Cody Morris, rhp, Reservoir HS, Fulton, Md.

92

2494

3

Jackson Parthasarathy, rhp, Lake Travis, Austin, Texas

86

2475

4

Drew Finley, rhp, Rancho Bernardo, San Diego

89

2472

5

Steven Plaskett, rhp, East Lake HS, Tarpon Springs, Fla.

88

2460

6

Beau Burrows, rhp, Weatherford (Texas) HS

94

2451

7

Dakota Chalmers, rhp, Lakeview Academy, Gainesville, Ga.

89

2448

8

Yasin Chentouf, rhp, Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla.

89

2444

9

Cole Sands, rhp, North Florida Christian, Tallahassee, Fla.

90

2437

10

Hogan Harris, lhp, St. Thomas More, Lafayette, La.

91

2390

11

DeMarcus Evans, rhp, Petal (Miss.) HS

89

2380

12

Andrew Noviello, rhp, Bridgewater-Raynham HS, Bridgewater, Mass.

89

2380

13

Hunter Parsons, rhp, Parkside HS, Salisbury, Md.

90

2378

14

Triston McKenzie, rhp, The Royal Palm Beach (Fla.) HS

89

2377

15

Nick Neidert, rhp, Peachtree Ridge, Suwanee, Ga.

91

2375

16

Andrew Cabezas, rhp, Mater Academy Charter, Hialeah, Fla.

89

2371

17

Nolan Kingham, rhp, Sierra Vista, Las Vegas

88

2368

18

Ronald Ramirez, rhp, Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit

84

2367

19

Kyle Ostrowski, lhp, Lincoln-Way North, Frankfort, Ill.

88

2337

20

Chandler Day, rhp, Watkins Memorial HS, Pataskala, Ohio

91

2336

Average Fastball

MPH

RPM

Top Draft Picks (Rds. 1-3)

91

2200

Elite College Conference

89

2180

2014 D-I Fastballs

Spin Rate (RPM)

% Swinging Strike

< 2000

5.00%

2000-2100

5.30%

2100-2200

5.30%

2200-2300

5.70%

2300-2400

6.90%

2500+

9.10%

MLB 2010-2013

RPM (00s)

SwStr%

GB %

<-20

5.50%

47.30%

20 – 21

6.10%

43.00%

21 – 22

6.80%

40.30%

22 – 23

7.70%

38.70%

23 – 24

8.70%

37.40%

24 – 25

10.40%

36.30%

25 ->

13.40%

37.20%

There is a positive correlation between fastball spin rate and swinging strike rate, with an inverse correlation to groundball rate.

The highest fastball spin rate belonged to lefthander Thomas Szapucki, who narrowly missed making the peak velocity list. Szapucki was up to 93 repeatedly last week at Tournament of Stars. Szapucki also had the best breaking ball spin rate at the event. Given his arm slot, breaking ball, fastball movement and spin rate, Szapucki presents a tough matchup for same-side hitters.

Three righthanders (Cody Morris, Chandler Day and Beau Burrows) appeared on both the fastball velocity and spin rate leaderboards, combining two positive indicators for creating swings and misses.

Daniel Neal and Kep Brown were the only players to appear on the exit velocity leaderboard for two different hits. The righthanded-hitting Brown had two doubles that hit high off the wall in left field. Both of Brown’s doubles also appear on the next list below, farthest hit balls.

FARTHEST HITS BALLS

Rank

Player, Position, School

Feet

MPH

Sec.

Play Result

1

Chris Betts, c, Wilson HS, Long Beach, Calif.

399

99

4.7

Triple

2

Josh Naylor, 1b/of, St. Joan of Arc, Maple, Ont.

394

100

5.2

Triple

3

Kep Brown, of, Wando HS, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

382

101

4.3

Double

4

Devin Davis, 1b, Valencia HS, Santa Clarita, Calif.

371

102

4

Double

5

Dillon Paulson, 1b, Santa Fe Christian, Solana Beach, Calif.

365

95

5.4

Out

6

Sam Finnerty, of, Pelham (Ala.) HS

357

92

4.6

Out

7

Jalen Miller, ss, Riverwood HS, Sandy Springs, Ga.

355

93

4.1

Double

8

Kep Brown, of, Wando HS, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

354

98

3.6

Double

9

Jacob Corso, 1b, Lake Mary (Fla.) HS

349

94

4.7

Double

10

Brandt Stallings, 1b, Kings Ridge Christian, Alpharetta, Ga.

349

98

4.5

Double

11

Willie Burger, 1b/3b, Lancaster (Pa.) Catholic HS

349

90

4.6

Out

12

Jonathan India, inf, American Heritage HS, Delray Beach, Fla.

348

90

4.3

Out

13

Dalton Blumenfeld, c/1b, Hamilton HS, Los Angeles

348

93

4.6

Double

14

Kirk Sidwell, of, Olympia HS, Orlando, Fla.

346

92

4

Single

15

Kyle Tucker, of, Plant HS, Tampa

345

93

5.5

Out

16

Travis Blankenhorn, mif, Pottsville (Pa.) Area HS

344

90

5

Out

17

Stephen Scott, of, Cardinal Gibbons, Raleigh, N.C.

343

93

3.9

Out

18

Brandt Stallings, 1b, Kings Ridge Christian, Alpharetta, Ga.

343

93

4.6

Out

19

Ryan Mountcastle, inf, Hagerty HS, Oviedo, Fla.

343

94

4.2

Triple

20

Isiah Gilliam, of/1b, Parkview, Lilburn, Ga.

342

91

5.1

Out

In addition to Brown, three others (righthanded hitting first baseman Devin Davis, lefthanded-hitting first baseman Josh Naylor and lefthanded-hitting catcher Chris Betts) had hits that appeared on both leaderboards. The hits that put Naylor and Betts on the leaderboards were very similar, within a mph of the same velocity with only a five foot separation in total distance. Both hits were smoked to the same area directly to the right of straightaway center field, one-hopping the wall.

Power righthanded bat Brandt Stallings is the only player besides Brown to appear on the longest batted balls for two different hits.

Infielder Ryan Mountcastle appeared on both lists for different hits, as did outfielder/first baseman Isiah Gilliam.